Using the State Curriculum: Social Studies, Grade 8

Lesson Seeds: The lesson seeds are ideas for the indicator/objective that can be used to build a lesson. Lesson seeds are not meant to be all-inclusive, nor are they substitutes for instruction.

Standard 5.0 History

Topic B. Emergence, Expansion and Changes in Nations and Empires

Indicator 3. Evaluate westward movement in the United States before 1877

Objective b. Describe the government strategies used to acquire territory

Provide students with a map of North America that includes the United States as it existed in 1783, as well as the outlines of the Louisiana Territory, Florida, the Oregon Territory, Texas, the New Mexico Territory, California, the Utah Territory, and the Gadsden Purchase territory. Using their textbooks or other resources to guide them, have students label each territory with its name, the year of acquisition, and the method of acquisition. After completing their maps, have students use them to write a response to the following prompt: Describe techniques the United States government used to acquire new territories and fulfill its Manifest Destiny between 1803 and 1853.